Emergency Medical Services Degrees and Programs

This Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate program prepares students for employment as an Emergency Medical Technician in the fire/rescue-based, private-based or hospital-based EMS delivery system. The EMT performs basic pre-hospital level skills and treat various medical trauma conditions using appropriate equipment and materials.

This program also prepares students for Florida certification as EMT in accordance with Chapter 64-J of the Florida Administrative Code.

The Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Certificate program has been approved by the Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. The curriculum adheres to the 209 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Medical Technician National Education Standards. This is the initial level for a career in emergency medical services and the primary prerequisite for paramedic training and certification.

• View the program curriculum.
• If you choose to become licensed in multiple states or practice in a different state, visit nremt.org/rwd/public/states/state-ems-agencies and select the states in which you intend to practice from the drop-down menu for their licensing requirements. View the EMS Licensure Web Instructions.

How to Apply

The Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) certificate program is one semester and limited-access. To enroll, candidates must:

1. Apply and be accepted to Seminole State. For more information on the steps to enroll, visit the admissions website.
2. Attend a mandatory information session. You will receive a program application at this session.
3. Submit a completed Emergency Medical Service (EMS) application to the Fire Science/EMS office in the Center for Public Safety (PS-100) on the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus. The application must include: a FDLE/FBI criminal background check; proof of current certifications and CPR at the Health Care Provider or Professional Rescuer Level or equivalent; and a drug screening.

Cost

Tuition, books, uniforms, and testing fees for the EMT-Basic program is approximately $2,400 for in-state residents. For the complete information, please visit the fee schedule in the College Catalog or attend an information session.

How to Enroll

Upon completion of the application and submission of required documentation, students will receive a letter within 3-5 business days after the application deadline inviting them to the mandatory orientation session. Only students accepted into the program will be invited to the orientation. Students who are on stand by will also be invited to attend the orientation; however, their admission is not guaranteed. The orientation session will take place approximately 10 days after letters are received. Students will sign registration form at orientation that will be submitted to Records and Registration.

About the Program

Classes are held four or two days per week. Day and night programs are available. Laboratory and lecture may rotate throughout the week. EMT Practicum (clinical) hours will be scheduled by the student during times when lectures or labs are not scheduled.

The program is offered each term at the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus and based on student interest and enrollment at the Oviedo Campus. Classes follow the college's term schedule: Fall (August-December); Spring (January-April); and Summer (May-August). Enrollment into programs in the Center for Public Safety area begin approximately 8 weeks before the term begins.

• Day Classes (Sanford/Lake Mary): Mondays-Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Evening Classes (Sanford/Lake Mary and Oviedo*): Monday-Thursdays, 6-10 p.m.

*Oviedo classes are offered based on student interest and enrollment.

Professional liability insurance is required for EMT and Paramedic students and is included in the tuition costs. Seminole State does not provide medical insurance for the student, and it is the student's responsibility.

Special Requirements

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMS 1119), EMT Laboratory (EMS 1119L), and EMT Clinical (EMS 1401) must be completed in the same term.
• A minimum grade of "C" (80 percent) in EMS courses is required for the student to complete the National registry Certification Examinations and the Florida EMT-Certification.
• Students who receive a failing grade for any EMS course, or who withdraw from the program, must register into all three co-requisite courses upon return or re-admittance into the EMS Program..

Seminole State's Paramedic Technology Technical Certificate program is designed to prepare students as paramedics. The program is approved by the Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services; and the curriculum adheres to the 2009 U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic Education Standards. The content includes, but is not limited to, the six divisions of the DOT Curriculum: pre-hospital environment, preparatory, trauma, medical, OB/GYN/neonatal, and behavioral emergencies. The paramedic program of Seminole State College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).

The Profession and Program

The paramedic provides emergency care to acutely ill or injured patients in primarily the pre-hospital setting under a physician's direction. Reinforcement of basic skills in English, mathematics and science appropriate for the job preparatory programs occurs through vocational classroom instruction and applied laboratory procedures or practice. The paramedic performs Basic Life Support (BLS), and Advanced Life Support (ALS) procedures. ALS procedures include venipuncture and initiation of intravenous fluids, administration of medications, interpretation of electrocardiograms, defibrillation and endotracheal intubation. All of the advanced life support skills are performed under the direct or indirect supervision of a physician to prepare competent entry-level paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.

• Technical Standards
• Program Curriculum
• Paramedic Brochure

Note: If you choose to become licensed in multiple states or practice in a different state, visit nremt.org/rwd/public/states/state-ems-agencies, and select the states in which you intend to practice from the drop-down menu for their licensing requirements. View the EMS Licensure Web Instructions.

“To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.”

EMT/Paramedic Professional Opportunities

• Private ambulance company
• Fire rescue units
• Hospital emergency departments
• Industrial company
• Cardiac catheterization units

Paramedic Program Outcomes CAAHEP Accredited Paramedic Programs and CoAEMSP Letter of Review (LoR) Programs track and report outcome measures annually to the Committee on Accreditation for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP). The most current CoAEMSP Annual Report was for the calendar year 2022. The most recent success rate for the National Registry of EMT Paramedic Cognitive exam was 80.0%. The most recent positive placement rate for graduates was 100 %. Positive placement is defined by the CoAEMSP as ‘Employed full or part-time in a related field and/or continuing his/her education and/or serving in the military’. Positive placement is measured at completion of the program. The most recent retention rate was 97.5 %.

Paramedic Program Outcomes

Graduation Rate

The on-time graduation rate for students admitted to the program are listed below.

Pass Rates for NREMT

The NREMT pass rates below are for first attempt only (NREMT was optional for the years below).

Positive Placement Rate

The positive placement rate, as defined by CAAHEP based on the graduates of the paramedic program who are reporting working in either a full-time or part-time position as a paramedic within 12 months of graduation, continuing their education, or serving in the military; are listed below.

Students must register for each group of classes in sequence. Students may not register for any class without prior approval of the Program Manager for Fire Science/EMS.

Students seeking admission to the Paramedic program must first apply to the College. Upon successful completion of admission criteria, the Emergency Medical Services application should be filed with the Fire Science and Emergency Medical Services Office. Applicants should meet with a counselor to discuss admission requirements, CPT testing, program planning, and long-range goals. The Counseling Department is located in Building A.

An applicant must have earned a minimum of 2.0 cumulative grade point average to be considered for admission to the Paramedic Program. Applicants who are currently employed by a fire department in Seminole County will be allowed first opportunity to enroll in the paramedic program. All other applicants will fill the remaining positions in the class based on their application date and eligibility.

The Paramedic certificate and degree include co-requisite requirements. Failure to successfully complete any of the co-requisite courses will result in the student being withdrawn from all co-requisite courses (EMS). Upon return or acceptance into the EMS Program the student must re-register into all co-requisite courses. If a student receives a failing grade for any EMS course they will subsequently receive a withdrawal (W) for the co-requisite requirements. A minimum grade of C (80 %) must be earned in all EMS courses to meet program and graduation requirements. The Paramedic certificate program does not offer advanced placement.  Students desiring a Paramedic certificate must complete the program in its entirety.

“To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.”

For more information contact the Fire Science /EMS office at 407.708.2199.

The Paramedic Program Student Handbook is available to download and print.

“To prepare competent entry-level Paramedics in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains with or without exit points at the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician and/or Emergency Medical Technician, and/or Emergency Medical Responder levels.”

Prospective paramedic students who have completed an EMT program are invited to attend an information session to obtain program information, receive an application, and ask questions about the Paramedic program. All EMS and Fire information sessions are held at the Sanford/Lake Mary Campus.

To register to attend an information session, please visit us here EMS Information Session.

For more information, please contact the Center for Public Safety.

You can download a campus map here.

The Paramedic Program Preceptor Training is available to download and print.

• Preceptor Training PowerPoint version
• Preceptor Training PDF version